The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-01-12

l was recently in ! small Southern VII,
lage; the county was Auti-Prohlblton,
and of the four stores two were bar
rooms, or whiskey shops. Il WAS no
common sight to see staggering men and
crowds going and coming from these
shops On court days, for the county
court house was there, many men instead
of eating good wholesome food for din
ner, would go 70 the bar and drink their
dinner. just think, dinner of this vile
burning poison; we-o they fit men to
Judge their fellow men? thousands
times no. But while sojourned at this
place, 1 knew three bright promising lit
tie boys. aged four, five and SIX. Then
there were two others, little ones, seven
months and two years, each having a
nurse, young colored girls. One day at
dinner we were at the hotel, the Oldest
boy said Mama, Mr.. Barbcr-shop man,
(the proprietor of the barroom also cut
hair called us and gave us ali some cider.
Liz took Clyde and the baby too, and he
made every one drink even the little baby.
The Mama said, will punish you and
your brother for going. strictly for
bade it. The little boy said Liz, (the
oldest nurse) said come on, your ma
won't care for sweet cider, and Mrs. Max
lets Mr.. Walter go. Mr.. and Mrs. Max
were all present: and I'll not forget the
look of horror these words brought to
Mr.. Ma1s face. He was strict Presby-
terian minister, Walter, their one little
lamb; he turned to his wife and said,
Edna is this true; do lou let Walter go
to this drink shop? She replied, he
we2t there to get his hair cut, and brother
Ralph said he was too young for any
harm to come of it. He said, why don't
you see even the baby IS not too young.
The man knows bis part well. He begins
with the tender young babe, bringing
them up, cultivating taste for it, oait-
ing them for his own aim. I am horrihed
that in this fair village there is such vile,
black crime, and our beautiful boy, OH
I shudder; I wished to say when he be-
came man, Walter has never set foot
in dram shop, and now l cannot, little
did I dream OF this, SO young. Why,
I'd let his hail grow long upon his shoul-
ders, and I'd punish him severely if he
knew it was whisky shop. Edna, [ am
surprised at you, his mother, nearest to
him on earth; you who should be ever SO
wary and watchful of this evil. I am
deeply stirred within me- Walter, never
set foot in this mans shop again, and
never taste or take any thing he offers
you. If I hear of you doing so, shall
punish you severely. The other two
mothers showed equal distress for their
boys. The mother Of the babe especially,
to think, as the good minister said, he
was bringing up even the babies to love
his drink. Her father drank away reason
and life, under this same man influence,
and her only brother on the verge OF
manhood; Oh. she trembles to think
what will be his fate Is this htful gaiety,
this bright bloom upon his young face,
the bloom and gaiety of youth? She
trembles and prays God it may be, and
not the fatal poisoning bloom and gaiety
of strong drink. Edna, God watch and
guide your fair boy. And the widowed
mother OF the other two, the two oldest,
may she never experience the deep sor-
row of seeing her boys intemperate. On!
village, Oh! county, Danish alcohol from
your land, from your people, and you
banish these fearful crimes that are now
rackins you with deep distress, then yol
will see progress and prosperity, where
now is dilapidation and non-progressive-
ness. Whisky is your curse; tremble
for your children, tremble for their
future. Do you recognize this true pic
ture? 1t is as it really occurred,-Georga
Temperance Advocate.